Vanity in auto body repairs

HomerSapien

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2000
1,756
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I cant believe how people spend money to fix dents. I have a dent about the size of a softball on my truck door and front right body panel. I took it around to get estimates figuring it would be no more than $400 tops since it really is not bad at all. Every estimate came out to well over $1000. Looking at the bill, it was $150 for the parts and over $850 in labor. Is something odd going on or is it really that expensive? I walked out and am now thinking of putting a remote start system and another sub for a sxith of the estimate... Oh yeah, insurance covering it was out of the question for me.

Sigh.....

Im glad its just a truck and not a luxury car.
 

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
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Body repair is just like doctor/hospital bills. As long as the vast majority of it is being paid by insurance companies, there is no incentive to not screw people by pricing their services fairly.

 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
yeah some people (like me) are really anal about the way their car looks

gotta be perfect

 

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
65,521
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126
I wonder how much it would cost for a "new" car door for your truck HomerSapien :confused:
 

HomerSapien

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2000
1,756
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Neuro: I am too, i wash and wax/polish it very frequently. I just cant justify $1000 for it when it doesnt even affect the way it drives.
Zim: I asked and they said it would be closer to $1500 for replacing the parts.

Sigh....
 

NetworkDad

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2001
3,435
1
0
I went to get a dent repaired on my car, and a couple of auto-body vendors refused to service me unless my insurance was going to pay for it. They say they speacialize only in insurance repairs. Translation = They get much more money billing the insurance co.